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As an intensive energy consumer, Solvay seeks to reduce the energy impact of its activities and identify markets in which products can respond to customer needs.
Solvay is seeking innovative solutions to improve its energy supply and reduce the associated emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2).
The Group's strategy is to improve energy efficiency of its activities by solutions compatible with the energy needs of a primary industry and to diversify energy sources with use of alternative fossil fuels.
We support the targets for reduced CO2 emissions, so long as they are not applied solely to the EU but are accepted by all the major industrial regions; this is obviously necessary for reasons of efficiency and competitiveness.
Together with our customers, we are also helping develop chemical and plastic specialties, for use in applications that are more energy-efficient and able to reduce significantly the impact of human activities on the climate. This is particularly relevant to the fields of transport and construction (building, insulation, etc.).
SOLVAY solutions for reducing energy
Construction and housing
Plastics are used for insulation, pipe and ventilation systems, window frames, etc.
Their production is cost-efficient and uses little energy. They are mechanically strong, lightweight, chemically and temperature-resistant.
Reducing road transport of our products
Solvay is establishing mixed road-rail transport solutions where they are appropriate and meet customers’ requirements in terms of cost, time taken and punctuality of deliveries.
Mobility
Use of plastics components in cars, trains & planes provide numerous environmental advantages and significant weight reductions compared with other materials. Less weight means less fuel consumption, which means less CO2 emissions.
Solar Impulse
Extreme weight reduction allows to fly day and night on solar power, which is a diffuse energy source with low energy density. This achievement demonstrates the large remaining potential of weight reduction for mobility.
Solvay Energy
Solvay Energy optimizes net energy costs of Solvay Group by negotiating, concluding and managing contracts for natural gas, coal, coke, fuel, electrical energy, steam and carbon dioxide emission rights on behalf of the entities of the group.
Cogeneration units
Solvay is partnering with electricity producers to seek innovative solutions to improve the efficiency of energy supply.
The cogeneration plant is based on innovative technology and consequently combines the most stringent energy efficiency and environmental performances.
New technologies with higher energy efficiency
HPPO technology
Solvay, BASF and DOW are partners for the world’s largest commercial-scale propylene oxide (PO) plant and the first based on the innovative hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) technology.
HPPO is a technology that supports Solvay's focus on sustainability through greater energy efficiency, reduced physical footprint and improved environmental performance.
This technology brings environmental improvements to the PO industry by:
- reducing wastewater by 70 to 80 percent, compared with existing PO technologies
- reducing energy usage by 35 percent, compared with existing PO technologies
- reducing infrastructure and physical footprint with simpler raw material integration and avoidance of co-products
Membrane electrolysis
Solvay has invested to reduce its environmental footprint, in Tavaux (France), by replacing mercury-based process by state-of-the-art membrane-based technology. This conversion will reduce the consumption of electrical energy of the electrolysis by 25% and improve the environmental footprint of the site by reducing direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions with 19, 200 tons per year.
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